CHARLES PRESTON WILL OFFICIALLY TAKE OVER AS ST. TAMMANY PARISH CORONER -- AFTER VOTERS ELECTED HIM TO THE EMBATTLED OFFICE -- EARLIER THIS MONTH. PRESTON REPLACES IMPRISONED CORONER DOCTOR PETER GALVAN AND WILL SERVE AS CORONER THROUGH MARCH 2016. WDSU REPORTER CASEY FERRAND JOINS US LIVE IN THE STUDIO THIS MORNING WITH MORE ON TODAY'S CEREMONY. GOOD MORNING, RANDI AND SULA. DR. CHARLES PRESTON IS READY TO GET TO WORK ... IN FACT HE SAYS HE'S BEEN IN THE OFFICE EVERYDAY SINCE HIS ELECTION... FAMILIARIZING HIMSELF WITH THE STAFF, OPERATIONS, BUDGET AND LEGAL MATTERS OF THE AGENCY. HE IS PROMISING TAX PAYERS TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY IN OFFICE. DOCTOR CHARLES PRESTON WILL TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR ST. TAMMANY PARISH CORONER IN A PUBLIC CEREMONY THIS EVENING. THE RETIRED EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN WON THE SEAT IN A SPECIAL ELECTION ON MAY 3. HE'S PROMISED TO PUMP NEW LIFE INTO THE EMBATTLED OFFICE. PRESTON REPLACES IMPRISONED CORONER DR. PETER GALVAN... WHO RESIGNED IN OCTOBER AND PLEADED GUILTY TO A FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGE OF CONSPIRING TO USE PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN. LAST MONTH, GALVAN BEGAN SERVING A TWO-YEAR FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE.. DR. PRESTON SAYS THE CORONER'S OFFICE HAS FOUR MAJOR AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT DEATH INVESTIGATION, SEXUAL ASSAULT, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ADMINISTRATION... AND THAT THOSE THINGS ARE MOSTLY DONE WELL. ALTHOUGH PRESTON SAYS THE PARISH HAS ONLY A FEW SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, IT IS AN AREA WHERE HE THINKS MORE RESOURCES WOULD BE HELPFUL. THE PUBLIC SWEARING IN CEREMONY WILL BE AT 5 THIS EVENING AT THE CORONER'S OFFICE FACILITY ON HWY. 434 IN LACOMBE. RETIRED JUDGE PATRICIA HEDGES WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. AFTER THE CEREMONY THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION AND THE BUILDING WILL BE OPEN FOR TOURS. ON YOUR SIDE CASEY FERRAND WDSU NEWS. PRESTON DEFEATED PSYCHIATRIST AND DEPUTY CORONER DR. LEANNE TRUEHART IN THE MAY THIRD ELECTION.